- I can’t quite figure out the popularity of the swag. Feature-wise they seem way to hot and claustrophobic.
Being an American transplant in Oz, I can assure you I’ve drank the Kool-aid and am now a believer.
Having spent a good part of my life in backpacking tents of all shapes and sizes, dome tents, even those big bastards they sell at Costco. Everything like any tool has a purpose, but a swag’s simplicity is its strongest feature. For car camping at least. And for those who don’t mind simple.
I’ve gotten myself an ARB double skydome. Which is certainly bulky. It fits on my roof rack, or takes up the entire back seat of the Ineos. It’s also not the lightest belle at the ball…
But!
It sure is comfy. The biggest contributing factor being the 6” thick foam mattress that’s integrated into the package. So no sliding off your matt in the middle of the night. It’s the entire floor of the swag.
Also being constructed of canvas it’s robust, And water proof. When I got mine the directions insisted on douching it with a hose to season the canvas, Which I did. I gave the swag an equivalent deluge of a cat 5 hurricane. Dry as a bone inside.
No rain fly to flop around making noise in the wind either. It’s just the skin of the swag.
Lastly the ease of setup. Literally 3x 1/2 hoop spring poles, and 2 straight ones. It’s together and sleepable in 5 min or less. And easy to do in the dark, wet, cold numb fingers etc.
The cost was ridiculous. $800Aud… but I imagine it will outlast me as long as I take care of it. And if not ARB has a good return policy.
Hot? Maybe. But what tent isn’t in a hot climate?
Claustrophobic? Likely. But again. What tent isn’t?
Comfortable, robust, simple, and functional? Absolutely!
YMMV
